Implementation into Union law of measures adopted by regional fisheries management organisations

It affects EU fishing vessels, vessel operators and crews fishing tuna, tuna-like species and other regulated stocks in Atlantic, Pacific, Indian Ocean and Northwest Atlantic areas.

• Adds protections for whale sharks, mobulid rays, silky sharks, sea turtles and other non-target species.
• Updates rules on FAD design, biodegradable materials, buoy activation, recovery and reporting.
• Strengthens vessel monitoring, electronic monitoring, observer programmes, transhipment controls and port inspections.
• Introduces high-seas boarding procedures, serious-infringement rules and gear-pollution obligations.

Transitional law

For IATTC FADs, biodegradable-material requirements apply from 1 January 2026, with stricter categories required from 1 January 2029.

• Regulation (EU) 2017/2107 (32017R2107)
  • art. Chapter V title: renames Chapter V title as “Elasmobranchs”
  • art. 30a: inserts new Article 30a on whale sharks
  • art. 33a: adds paragraphs 6 and 7 on South Atlantic shortfin mako retention
  • art. 35a: inserts new Article 35a on mobulid rays
  • art. 41: adds paragraph 7 limiting applicability of sea turtle measures in South Atlantic areas
  • art. 66a(3): replaces paragraph 3 on vessel sighting reports and EFCA role
• Regulation (EU) 2018/975 (32018R0975)
  • art. 4: amends definitions and inserts new points 7a-7c and 19-27
  • art. 7: inserts paragraphs 1a-1c on catch-limit notification and reporting periods
  • art. Chapter I of Title III: replaces Chapter I with new bottom-fishing regime
  • art. 12: replaces Article 12 on bottom fishing management areas
  • art. 13: replaces Article 13 on bottom fishing authorisation
  • art. 14: replaces Article 14 on VMEs in bottom fishing
  • art. 15: replaces Article 15 on observer coverage in bottom fishing
  • art. 16: replaces Article 16 on bottom fishing data reporting
  • art. 17: replaces Article 17 on exploratory fisheries authorisation
  • art. 21: replaces Article 21 on gillnet transit requirements
  • art. 22: replaces paragraph 2 and inserts paragraph 4a on authorised vessel records
  • art. 23: replaces paragraphs 2 and 3; adds paragraphs 5 and 6 on transhipment and active vessel reporting
  • art. 24: replaces Article 24 on transhipment notification
  • art. 24a: inserts Article 24a on storage requirements for receiving vessels
  • art. 25: replaces Article 25 on transhipment monitoring
  • art. 26: replaces Article 26 on post-transhipment reporting
  • art. 27: replaces paragraph 1 and inserts paragraph 3a on data reporting
  • art. 28: replaces Article 28 with observer programme provisions
  • art. 28a: inserts Article 28a on observer data reporting
  • art. 28b: inserts Article 28b on observer programme accreditation
  • art. 28c: inserts Article 28c on impartiality, independence and integrity
  • art. 28d: inserts Article 28d on observer qualifications
  • art. 28e: inserts Article 28e on observer training
  • art. 28f: inserts Article 28f on observer trainers
  • art. 28g: inserts Article 28g on briefing and debriefing
  • art. 28h: inserts Article 28h on observer data validation
  • art. 28i: inserts Article 28i on observer identification cards
  • art. 28j: inserts Article 28j on observer placements and deployments
  • art. 28k: inserts Article 28k on observer safety equipment
  • art. 28l: inserts Article 28l on observer misconduct procedures
  • art. 28m: inserts Article 28m on dispute settlement procedure
  • art. 28n: inserts Article 28n on observer safety
  • art. 28o: inserts Article 28o on insurance and liability
  • art. 28p: inserts Article 28p on rights of observers
  • art. 28q: inserts Article 28q on duties of observers
  • art. 28r: inserts Article 28r on rights of vessel operators and masters
  • art. 28s: inserts Article 28s on duties of vessel operators and masters
  • art. 28t: inserts Article 28t on safety orientation briefing
  • art. 28u: inserts Article 28u on emergency procedures
  • art. 29a: inserts Article 29a on marking and identification of fishing vessels
  • art. 31: replaces paragraph 1 and inserts paragraph 1a on port-use information
  • art. 33: adds paragraphs 3 and 4 on port entry and denial of port use
  • art. 35: replaces paragraph 2 on port inspection reports and evidence
  • art. 35a: inserts Article 35a on high seas boarding and inspection general principles
  • art. 35b: inserts Article 35b on high seas boarding and inspection aboard Union vessels
  • art. 35c: inserts Article 35c on serious infringements
  • art. 35d: inserts Article 35d on marine pollution
  • art. 35e: inserts Article 35e on retrieval of abandoned, lost or discarded fishing gear
  • art. 40: replaces Article 40 on alleged infringements reported by SPRFMO parties
  • art. 41: adds paragraph 4 on reporting methods preventing satellite-tracking tampering
  • art. 43: amends delegated-power provisions, deleting point d and adding points g-u
  • art. Annexes XIV-XX: adds Annexes XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XIX and XX
• Regulation (EU) 2019/833 (32019R0833)
  • art. 5(3)(a): replaces wording “all species” with “catch”
  • art. 6(1): adds point ea on cod fishery closure in Division 3L; amends time format in points d and eғsummary truncate? no.